by Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

by Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

Carnival says the 2,124-passenger Carnival Legend today is having a problem with one of its Azipod propulsion units that is affecting the vessel's sailing speed.

The Carnival Legend's "hotel" operations including lighting, air conditioning and toilets are working fine, but the vessel will miss its scheduled call today in Grand Cayman due to a reduced speed, the company says in a statement issued early Friday

The incident comes just a day after technical problems grounded the 3,646-passenger Carnival Dream in Philipsburg, St. Maarten and a little more than a month after an engine room fire left the 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph dead in the water in the Gulf of Mexico. Both ships are now out of service for repairs.

The Carnival Legend is in the midst of a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise out of Tampa that began on Sunday and had been scheduled to include calls in Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico as well as Grand Cayman. With its speed reduced, the ship is now heading directly home to Tampa in lieu of the scheduled Grand Cayman stop, the line says. It's expected to arrive in Tampa on Sunday as scheduled.

Carnival says passengers on the Carnival Legend will receive a $100 per person credit as compensation for the missed Grand Cayman call as well as a refund of any pre-purchased shore excursions. Passengers also will receive 50% off a future Carnival cruise.

Passengers on the Carnival Dream are being flown home from St. Maarten today and Saturday, and the line has canceled the next sailing of the vessel scheduled to begin on Saturday. Carnival on Thursday said a backup generator on the Carnival Dream malfunctioned Wednesday during a routine test while the ship was in port and needs to be repaired.

A third Carnival ship, the Carnival Elation, also experienced a problem this week with the steering function of one of its two Azipod propulsion units, Carnival's Jennifer De La Cruz tells USA TODAY. She called the problem minor, noting the vessel is designed to steer with only one Azipod in operation. The current cruise of the vessel has been unaffected by the problem.